This bed really comes into its own in late summer when the dahlias Alva's Doris, David Howard and a wonderful red and yellow one, plus crocosmia and nasturtiums fill the bed. It has a backbone of clipped variegated hollies and mahonia.
The rose garden takes on a different complexion in autumn with large nicotiana, either sylvestris or mutabalis and the glossy berries of american pokeweed
We do not cut down the herbaceous plants and grasses until the spring. This gives cover and food for the birds and on frosty mornings the garden looks quite magical. And some years the added excitement of snow!
